Living With My Grandma (18+)
Episode 4
Darlington walked in and sat at the edge of the bed. He uttered no word. Silence stood between us for minutes. If not that I was caught in the act, I’d have asked about grandma’s whereabouts but I was so ashamed of myself that I couldn’t utter anything.
“Zee, has it gotten to this extent? What exactly were you watching?” He finally broke the awkward silence.
“The movies I took from your phone,” I replied.
Silence.
He didn’t say anything for almost two minutes. Rather, he stared disappointed.
“Which of them?” came another query from Darlington.
I stood, and as if I was going to answer him, I stalked off angrily.
Answering those queries would irritate me more and make me feel worthless and dirty.
“Zee.” He called from my room. I was already halfway to the kitchen. I didn’t respond to Darlington. He called again, and this time, louder. He stood at the door.
“What is it?” I turned with the speed of light. The look on my face was something else. I was so pissed off. But I couldn’t tell why my mood suddenly became more violent. I didn’t know what came over me. Darlington was startled. I haven’t reacted in such a manner before. He was baffled. Dude was short of words. He didn’t say anything further.
I walked into the kitchen to prepare dinner before grandma finally arrives. She would yell at me if peradventure she comes back—and only to realize I hadn’t started.
I was to prepare vegetable soup that evening. I chopped the leaves absent-mindedly. I was still boiling in anger. I had thought Darlington would come inside the kitchen to yell at me but he didn’t stress it, he stayed back in my room after seeing my unusual reaction. All the while I was in the kitchen, I didn’t hear his voice.
I was almost done preparing the soup when grandma came in with pineapples. It was obvious he had harvested them from the farm, about two of them. I walked to her, welcomed her and collected them from her, and headed back to the kitchen.
Not long after grandma went inside her room, she invited me to her room. With the way and manner, grandma called my attention, I knew she was up for query. My heart throbbed. I was frightened. What could be the reason she’s calling me this way? When she asked that I sit down, my skin almost left my body.
Could it be she has found out about Meska and I? Or could it be she knew what went down with Darlington and I and chose to keep mute all this while? No, it can’t be. I pondered, as several thoughts rushed through my head.
It has been grandma’s way of counseling or perhaps rebuking me, anytime I do anything wrong.
When she coughed and cleared her throat, she began:
“Ziora.”.
“Mama,” I answered. My heart pounded faster.
“Do you really want to further your studies? Have you considered learning a skill?” This was the thrilling question grandma asked in Igbo language. I heaved a big sigh of relief on realizing it wasn’t any of my thoughts.
“Yes, grandma. I want to further my studies.”
“Um, okay. That’s fine.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you think learning a skill before school would be a better option for you?” she added to my discomfort.
I was just wondering where all of those sudden suggestions came from. She hadn’t asked me these sorts of questions before. So, why now?
“Grandma, I have already bought Jamb form,” I lied, just so she could know her opinions came late.
“Well, it’s Janet…. You know Janet?”
“Yes. The fashion designer along the road?”
“Yes. She was the one who thought it wise you get a skill before school.”
It was then I knew where the whole question was coming from. When I left her room and back to the kitchen, I contemplated it. My mom wouldn’t even want to hear such from me.
Living with my grandma was never her choice for me. If only she had all it take to take me along with my sibling, she would have done it right from the start. My mom never wanted me to grow up in the village. She was so against it and she had her reasons. It was my father who insisted I stay back and take care of his mother.
It was 6:45 pm. The sun had disappeared into the thin air. Twinkle stars dotted the sky. Dinner was finally ready, I served grandma in her room before returning reluctantly to my room.
Darlington lay on his belly, his eyes glued to his phone. He didn’t even notice me. He chose not to look up. And no words left his mouth as I sat quietly at the edge of the bed. I went through my phone gallery—admiring some of my favorite pictures.
That was the least I could do with my low battery phone. Then, Meska’s picture popped up; his matriculation picture, particularly. My head got filled with the good and lovely memories we shared. I badly wished he could call and tell me he was fine. Or perhaps tell me exactly what was wrong with him. I missed his thick voice and his hairy body. I missed everything about my guy.
“Are you not done with the food?” Darlington finally broke the awkward silence.
“Your food is in the kitchen,” I replied without looking him in the face. I continued with my phone.
“So, I should go get it myself?”
“No, don’t go. Stay there and wait for me to serve you, too.” I didn’t say this to his hearing. It was my mere thought. Instead, I replied: “Maybe.”
He simply gazed at me and sighed slowly. I knew I was badly getting at his nerves. I couldn’t tell exactly while I was so mad at him. He was the same person I was chatting with earlier in the day. I guess I emotionally blackmailed him, so he wouldn’t have the gut to query me for the act he caught me at.
Darlington left my room without uttering a word. He headed straight to the Kitchen and dished out soup. Semo was already there, wrapped in white nylon. I overhead his footsteps as he threaded towards the dining room. I had no appetite for food that night. I didn’t even prepare my semo. I was a junk addict. I preferred eating junk foods, and I had them stored in my room.
It was prolly because of the kind of meal I prepared for grandma since the days I started living with her. Most of the meal then was what the doctor recommended. I didn’t have the strength to prepare mine. You might say I was lazy. Well, I didn’t like making meals. So, I either managed hers or feed on junk. Junks were mainly my breakfast and dinner.
About fifteen minutes later, Nepa restored light. At last, I got to plug in my phone. Excitedly, I reached for the wall socket and plugged in my phone. When I checked through the door, Darlington was done eating, he was trying to switch on the Television.
I lay patiently on my bed waiting for my phone to charge to an extent before I could start using it again. And that was the last thing I remembered before I dozed off.
In my dream that night, I saw myself with Meska. I visited him on campus. He looked pale and worn out. He had lost noticeable weight too. Meska was so elated to see me again. When I asked what happened to him all the while he didn’t connect with me, he said it was a long story. He promised to share it with me later. He said he had missed me.
He was all over me like he was going to eat me up. And before I could say jack, he plugged his lips, stopping me from saying anything further. He grabbed my a*s and that startled me. My eyes opened and I was astonished to see Darlington lying on me and doing exactly what I had thought was a dream with Meska.
His touch unnerved me but I couldn’t scream because I was being kissed passionately. There was still light. The blue bulb in my room was illuminated. He signaled me to keep mute. I couldn’t resist and kissed his lips fully. He kissed me back. I didn’t know what I was thinking in my mind. I had said to myself that I wasn’t going to indulge in this act with Darlington again. But I couldn’t help it this time.
I was kissing with my tongue in his mouth and exploring his mouth, his saliva was tasty and we kissed for almost ten minutes. It was wild and awesome.
I tasted every inch of his mouth. His hand gradually slid down to my back, grabbing my a*s. They were soft and tender. Darlington and I breathed heavily with our lips plugged into each other.
“When did you enter and for how long have we been doing this?” I paused and asked.
Darlington didn’t say anything. Instead, he covered my mouth with his lips. His right hand pressed my a*s while the other hand rested on my b***s. He was getting hard as I could feel his stuff struggling between his leg. He moaned inaudibly and adjusted vehemently.
“Zee.” I overhead grandma from her room, followed by the creaking of the door. I jumped off the bed in a flash and came back to my senses. Darlington reached the door and hid behind it, with the thought that grandma was heading to my room. I peeked at the clock on the wall, it was 12:28 am.
Why is grandma calling me at this time of the night? I wiped myself with a towel and went straight to her room.
Grandma’s room was filled with dusk when I paced in. I carefully searched for the switch control on the wall and switched it on. She lay there on her back. When I asked why she called, grandma complained of chest pain. She asked me to get her some water. I went to the kitchen and returned quickly with a cup of water.
When she sipped the water, she asked about Darlington. I lied. I told her he was sleeping in one of the rooms upstairs. I stayed back with grandma in her room for a while before returning to my room.
Darlington was still there, but I wasn’t in the mood for any of those illicit acts anymore. Knowing grandma was sick, kinda annihilated the lust in me. I beckoned on him to leave my room. His countenance changed. He wasn’t happy. He stared at me lustfully but eventually walked out sheepishly.
When he left, I bolted the door and slump tiredly on the bed.
My head ached badly. I checked my phone and realized it was almost recharged completely, 98℅. I unplugged it.
WhatsApp was the first app I clicked on. I swiped left to view status, I noticed a contact I saved with an emoji had a status. No other contact except Meska’s was saved with two heart emojis. I hastily clicked to see what my guy posted after months. And it read: “If you can see this, please, pray for me.”
I had goosebumps. I started typing, my hands were shaking as I typed. “Meska, what happened? Where have you been? Please, talk to me.” My messages ticked one, I denoting he wasn’t online.
“Please call me. We need to talk. I have missed you.” I added a teary emoji. It still ticked one. I dialed his contact but got notified I had no airtime on my phone.
Damn! I borrowed from the network provider. When finally I called after I received the airtime, sadly, Meska’s line didn’t go through. I called again and again, yet the same response. Angrily, I threw my phone on my bed. I yelled in frustration.
That night, I was restless. Sleep was far from my eyes. My mind wandered about with thoughts saying this and that. What exactly is going on with my guy?
The following day, grandma’s illness got worsened. I called my father and informed him about the new development. We spoke over the phone for minutes, after which he asked Darlington and I to take her to the hospital for a checkup. We obliged. I told grandma to get ready so we could start going.
While she was inside her room preparing, Darlington and I waited outside; the entrance door. I was dressed in a blue gown. Darlington wore a jacket and trousers. He leaned against the wall and glued to his phone. His bags were ready too. He was to return home that very day.
Just then, Annabel walked in from the gate. A crop top covered her upper body and a black skirt fitted the top. She was all smiles when our eyes met. The sun reflected on her dark skin body, her hair was neatly braided. And now you must be wondering who she was?
Annabel was one of my classmates before she dumped our school for another school at the eleventh hour. She left after our SS2, just to write her Waec with a particular school she believed had promising chances of giving her a better result. Her parents weren’t satisfied with the recent performances from other sets, our predecessors. Annabel also had a sister who graduated from our school.
Well, when our Waec results were finally released, Annabel actually did better than most of us, her former classmates. She made A’s and B’s. My classmates rumored the supposed school was into runs, I mean examination misconduct, which always gives them a better result. I can’t really say if that was true. All I knew was, that Annabel didn’t regret her decision.
Annabel and I exchanged pleasantries so well. She embraced me too. It had been long. The last time we saw was after our final exam. She wasn’t just my former classmate, she was a good friend of mine and I had missed her. She hadn’t been in town for over a year. My girlfriend was looking good. Her Auntie was absolutely treating her well.
Annabel and Darlington also exchanged pleasantries. She was the jovial kind of girl. Even when you don’t want to interact with her, she’d indirectly make you do so, and that was what she did to Darlington.
Just then, grandma came out from her room, already dressed, and was set to leave with us. Annabel greeted grandma. Grandma still recognized her. She was devoted to the parish, just like grandma, too. How about me? Well, you’d only see me in church on Sundays. Nothing more.
I told Annabel to check on me later while I take grandma to the hospital. We all left the house while Annabel went back to their house, not too far from ours. I was so delighted to see her again. At least someone to keep my company.
****
At the community hospital, grandma’s blood pressure was discovered to have risen high, and other health issues the residential doctor diagnosed. I reported back to my father, and he demanded to speak with the doctor. I guess I forgot to tell you that my father was also a doctor? Well, my father was several things, a lecturer, a business tycoon, and a doctor.
Long story short, grandma was eventually given a bed at the women’s ward. The walls of the ward were bare, painted in blue. With the pungent smell of hospital disinfectant wading my nostrils, I held my nose with my left palm. It made me want to throw up, but I grasped myself.
My gaze swiveled over the ward, looking for a place for Darlington and I to sit. Grandma was breathing softly. The hum of the fan filled the room.
Darlington and I watched as grandma lay on the bed while a young glamorous nurse administered a drip for her. When I checked my timepiece, it was 1:25 pm. Darlington and I sat with half buttocks, sharing a wooden stool inside the ward. He was steadily playing games with his phone.
Fast forward to 3:00 pm, Darlington alerted me. It was time for him to go. According to him, he needed to meet up with something very urgent before evening. I didn’t disagree with him. Grandma was asleep when he stood up to go. I followed him to the entrance of the hospital where we bid each other goodbye. He promised to visit us when he rounds up with his projects and final exams. No matter how I tried to pretend, I’d surely miss him.
When he left, I went to a nearby canteen and bought food for grandma and I. I was feeling famished. On my arrival, grandma was awake. A closer zoom at her wrinkled face showed how tired she was. I called my father and they both talked for a long time. That was when I took time to munch the rice and stew I bought outside. It was already dawning on me we would spend the night in the ward.
At night, I couldn’t sleep. People were talking in low voices, antiseptic scent of bleach, questionable food smell,s and other fragrances that filled the air. There were occasional sounds from the nurse’s station. Grandma lay on her back on the bed. She was fast asleep. 10, 11, and 12 am, I was still up. All thanks to my phone for keeping me company. I decided to check my WhatsApp messages, and then I recalled I texted Meska. He had read my messages but didn’t reply. I was worried.
“Meska, you ain’t replying to my messages?” I texted. It double ticked, denoting he was online and that made me hopeful. After two minutes, I sent a teary emoji and he still didn’t read nor replied. I quickly placed a voice call, he declined as soon as it rang. And that was when he read my messages but still didn’t reply.
“Can we talk?” I texted again. Meska waited for five minutes before he replied.
“Ziggy, I’m going through a lot right now. I’m not in the mood to talk.”
“Can’t we talk about it? Do you still need the money?”
“Yes, please. Help me if you can. It has been a rough ride down here.”
“And you don’t want to talk about it?”
“It’s quite a long story. We’ll talk about it later.
Meska and I gradually engaged in what seemed like a long conversation. I went further and asked if it was lodge rent, but he said his problems were numerous. I pleaded for a video call but he said he was going low on data, and it would finish anytime soon. My guy sounded so penniless and broke, and that really got me. I was moved to credit his account.
Minutes later, he sent his account details, even when I didn’t ask for it. And that showed he was in dire need of help. I couldn’t hold it anymore, I sent him thirty thousand naira.
Meska was so delighted when he received the alert. He sent a voice note which contained gratitude and how positively the money would improve his current state. I was happy too. I admitted guilt for neglecting him the first time he needed help.
It was nerve-wracking to reunite after not talking for so long with Meska. We didn’t talk much before he went offline. He promised to make time for us the following day.
That night, I slept with a half-smile on the wooden stool close to grandma’s bed. Mosquitoes really fed on my skin which was noticeable when I woke up.
Grandma was discharged in the evening of the following day. We settled the bill with the money my father sent to my account. We took our leave before 6:00 pm.
***
Back in our house, I felt differently. I was elated and relieved, knowing Meska and I had reunited. It was such a good feeling to realize he was still in my life. Later in the night when I was in my room, Meska was the first to text and we started chatting for minutes and minutes turned to hour.
I smiled sheepishly at my screen. I have really missed that feeling. And I have also missed his vibes which I confessed to him.
Amidst our chat, we switched to video call. My guy had changed but not that bad. He lost noticeable weight, too.
From the video call, we did something we had never done before. And it was Meska who initiated it. Yeah, your guess is absolutely right, yes, we s*x chat. And below was how our conversation went. He texted first:
Him: You turn and pull me closer.
Me: I kiss you deeply on your pink lips.
Him: I push you towards the wall.
Me: I’m licking your lips slowly and sensuously.
Him: Hmmm
Me: Hmmmer, Hmmmest
Him: Hahaha
Me: Laughing emoji
Him: Your nips become erect and pointed.
Me: Oh yes, baby.
Him: Smooching my baby very passionately.
Me: With your lips locked to mine.
Him: I take you in my arms
Him: I push your hands above your head.
Me: Hmmm
Him: You know what I want
Me: Hmmm b***s
Him: I tie your hands above your head.
Me: Ah! Meska
Him: Making you point your erected nips at me
Me: Bad boy
Him: Since your hands are tied you can’t do anything.
Me: Hmm, I open my hands.
Him: I come from your back
Him: I keep my hands at your nape and slowly massage you.
Me: Aww
Him: I slowly insert my both hands into your top.
Me: B***s lover
Him: I massage your b***s as I do always.
Me: From behind?
Him: Yes! You’re sitting and I’m standing.
Me: Aww. Sweet.
Him: I reach for your n*****s
Me: I missed it so much
Meska gradually put me in the mood that night with his creative and alluring phrasing, and that got me yawning for his presence.
To be continued…
